Office of Field Experiences & Internship

Internship Conferences and Observations

A critical component of the internship is the time that Interns, Cooperating Teachers, and University Supervisors spend in conferences.  These conferences are opportunities to plan, clarify expectations, share suggestions and ideas, review student work, critique Intern performance and progress, and develop improvement plans.  The Reflective Practitioner model includes carefully planned and sequenced opportunities for this to take place.

Preliminary Conference

The Preliminary Conference will serve to review the Performance Dimension expectations, clarify procedures and policies of the school and classroom, establish a schedule for the Intern to assume instructional responsibilities, ask questions, and clarify the roles and expectations of all parties.

Internship Preliminary Conference Questions

Weekly Conference

The Weekly Conference is a meeting between the Cooperating Teacher and the Intern for the discussion of the Intern’s progress-to-date and plans for the next week.  The Cooperating Teacher will establish the time and place for this conference.  The Cooperating Teacher will share the strengths and weaknesses observed during the previous week and develop a plan to address the Intern’s weaknesses and to continue to reinforce the Intern’s strengths during the upcoming week. The Intern will receive a copy of the Weekly Conference Summary for his or her records and will then forward a copy to the University Supervisor before the next Weekly Conference.

Observations by University Supervisors

The University Supervisor will formally observe the Intern no less than six times.  Five observations will utilize the SCOE Observation Rubric and one observation will utilize the ADEPT Observation Form.  Four observations will take place prior to the Formative Conference and two observations will take place between the Formative and Summative Conferences. Interns should be knowledgeable about the ADEPT and SCOE requirements so that they are properly prepared for their observations and their teaching responsibilities.

Observations by Cooperating Teachers

The Cooperating Teacher will formally observe and provide written feedback to the Intern no less than once a week.

FORMATIVE CONFERENCE

The purpose of the Formative Conference is to give the Intern a formal assessment of his or her progress. The conference is held at the midpoint in the Internship, not later than week seven.  The conference will also serve to document the Intern’s mastery of required Performance Dimensions and Dispositions. 

The Formative Evaluation is completed during this conference.  This evaluation should identify both the strengths and weaknesses of the intern at this point in the internship.  Specific improvement goals and suggestions must be written for all areas of weaknesses.  This Formative Evaluation is not a final evaluation, but rather a checkpoint of progress.  All three parties, Intern, Cooperating Teacher, and University Supervisor will share their perspectives based upon prior written observations and conversations relating to the Intern’s performance.

In preparation for the Formative Conference the Intern should:

1. complete a self-reflection on the teaching experience to that point in time,
2. complete a self-evaluation listing strengths and weaknesses to that point in time,
3. complete a Formative Evaluation on his or her progress and bring to the conference to share,
4. complete a self-evaluation of the Dispositions Rating Form and bring to the conference to share,
5. generate a set of suggested strategies for further improvement and enhancement of his or her teaching abilities,
6. remind the Cooperating Teacher to complete the Formative Evaluation and Dispositions Rating Form in advance of the conference, and
7. compile all of the written observations on his or her performance to that point in time to have at the conference.

In preparation for the Formative Conference the University Supervisor and the Cooperating Teacher should each:

1. complete a Formative Evaluation on the Intern’s progress and bring to the conference to share,
2. complete a Dispositions Rating Form on the Intern and bring to the conference to share, and
3. generate a set of suggested strategies for further improvement and enhancement of the Intern’s teaching abilities.

At the conclusion of the conference, the University Supervisor will summarize the conference conclusions based upon a consensus of all parties and record the Intern’s scores on the Formative Evaluation.  A rating of 1 or 2 for the Formative Evaluation requires the attachment of written evidence to support the ratings and the development of an Intern Improvement Plan A rating of a 4 for the Formative Evaluation also requires the attachment of written evidence to support the rating.

The University Supervisor and the Cooperating Teacher will each complete an official Dispositions Rating Form at the conclusion of the Formative Evaluation.  An attachment of written evidence is required for each Disposition that bears a rating of 1.  In addition, the Dispositions showing weaknesses must be addressed on an Intern Improvement Plan.

SUMMATIVE CONFERENCE

The Summative Conference is held not later than week eleven of the internship.  The University Supervisor, Cooperating Teacher, and the Intern will review all observation feedback, Formative Conference evaluations, and any Improvement Plans created for the Intern.  Each party will have the opportunity to share their comments and ratings on the Summative Evaluations as well as the Dispositions.   This conference will produce a final evaluation of the Intern’s progress and ability to take on the responsibilities of a classroom teacher.

In preparation for the Summative Conference the Intern should:

1. complete a self-reflection on the teaching experience to that point in time,
2. complete a self-evaluation listing strengths and weaknesses to that point in time,
3. complete a Summative Evaluation on his or her progress and bring to the conference to share,
4. complete a self-evaluation of the Dispositions Rating Form and bring to the conference to share,
5. remind the Cooperating Teacher to complete the Summative Evaluation and Dispositions Rating Form in advance of the conference, and
6. compile all of the written observations on his or her performance to that point in time to have at the conference.

In preparation for the Summative Conference the University Supervisor and the Cooperating Teacher should each:

1. complete a Summative Evaluation on the Intern’s progress and bring to the conference to share, and
2. complete a Dispositions Rating Form on the Intern and bring to the conference to share.

The University Supervisor will complete the final, and official, ratings on the Performance Dimensions and Dispositions.  The Intern will retain, and place in the portfolio, the Summative Evaluations that were prepared prior to the conference by all of the parties.  The University Supervisor will take responsibility for providing SCOE with written copies of the Formative and Summative Evaluations as well as the final Dispositions Rating Forms that were completed by the University Supervisor and the Cooperating Teacher individually.  The University Supervisor will also take responsibility for entering the Formative and Summative Evaluations and the final Dispositions Rating Forms from the Cooperating Teacher and the University Supervisor into LiveText. 

A rating of 1 or 2 for the Summative Evaluation requires the attachment of written evidence to support the ratings and a referral to the Program Chairperson.  The Program Chairperson will schedule a conference with the University Supervisor and the Intern to decide on a course of action, which will be forwarded as a recommendation to the Dean.   A rating of a 4 for the Summative Evaluation also requires the attachment of written evidence to support the rating.

A rating of 1 for any Disposition requires the attachment of written evidence to support the ratings and a referral to the Program Chairperson.  The Program Chairperson will schedule a conference with the University Supervisor and the Intern to decide on a course of action, which will be forwarded as a recommendation to the Dean.